The all new, totally accepted, bigotry thread - "Blame a Christian"

[kochman]

I'm fine with that, it shouldn't be biased for or against any religion.

Therein lies the problem...
All religions are not created equal. At least in the minds of the parents... the kids... the teachers... whether some of you think they are or not.

 

[Ajidica]

Therein lies the problem...
All religions are not created equal. At least in the minds of the parents... the kids... the teachers... whether some of you think they are or not.

The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars,
But in ourselves

fivechar

 

[kochman]

And we saw what happened to him!

Anyhow, to argue that all religions are the same is insanity... all religions (well, maybe not ALL), all major religions have value, certainly... but equality? No.

 

[CELTICEMPIRE]

Therein lies the problem...
All religions are not created equal. At least in the minds of the parents... the kids... the teachers... whether some of you think they are or not.

I completely agree. It's just that an education on religions shouldn't favour one religion over another.

 

[Mr. Dictator]

Ummm, yeah, TF, that's what I think. I'm clearly a zealous Rick Sanatorium fan who wants to bring us back into the stone ages because I don't think mandated religious education is a huge benefit as compared to other subjects the time could be spent on, like underwater basketweaving.

And the truth shall set you free.

 

[Ajidica]

And the truth shall set you free.

Or, as Terry Pratchett wrote: "The truth shall make yet fret".

 

[peter grimes]

Anyhow, to argue that all religions are the same is insanity... all religions (well, maybe not ALL), all major religions have value, certainly... but equality? No.

Insanity? Isn't that bit hyperbolic?

And who on earth would you preference one religion over another? The fact that you're a christian and not a Confucian is that you happened to be born into a family that happened to live in the late 20th century north america. If you had been born in Hubei Province you'd almost certainly NOT be christian.

I see no compelling reason to treat one single religion preferentially.

 

[Arakhor]

I'm curious, was atheism discussed at all in the courses?

I don't think so, but then atheism simply isn't a religion, despite what fundamentalists may tell you.

Besides which, I never mentioned equality, Kochman. Neutrality is what British RS/RE/RK is after.

 

[Formaldehyde]

I really don't think that atheism and agnosticism should be overlooked in any comparative religion course merely because they aren't religions themselves. They are certainly valid alternatives.

 

[Arakhor]

I imagine that they would be covered in a Philosophy & Ethics course instead, which is what RS turns into for GCSE (or so I believe).

 

[kochman]

Insanity? Isn't that bit hyperbolic?

And who on earth would you preference one religion over another? The fact that you're a christian and not a Confucian is that you happened to be born into a family that happened to live in the late 20th century north america. If you had been born in Hubei Province you'd almost certainly NOT be christian.

I see no compelling reason to treat one single religion preferentially.

That's irrelevant to the point... what religion I was has nothing to do with which is best (beyond in my opinion) or adds more value, etc.
It isn't at all hyperbolic. Religions have differences...

 

[peter grimes]

That's irrelevant to the point... what religion I was has nothing to do with which is best (beyond in my opinion) or adds more value, etc.
It isn't at all hyperbolic. Religions have differences...

I'm sorry, I guess I don't understand what you were trying to say. In response to this:

I'm fine with that, it shouldn't be biased for or against any religion.

You said:

Therein lies the problem...
All religions are not created equal. At least in the minds of the parents... the kids... the teachers... whether some of you think they are or not.

[snip]

Anyhow, to argue that all religions are the same is insanity... all religions (well, maybe not ALL), all major religions have value, certainly... but equality? No.

I read that to mean that you think it's insanity to include all religions in a comparative religion course, because the parents would want their kids educated in their own religion more than in a non-native religion. Which is the precise thing many are arguing against, which is why I don't understand why you think my point of cultural bias and accident of where someone is born is irrelevant...

Am I misunderstanding you?

 

[kochman]

I just don't think bias is taken out of it... I don't.
Even the people talking about it talk about the picking of choosing of what gets covered based on relevance, which is poorly defined when it comes to spiritual manners, especially when, as someone else noted, Christians hardly agree on what Christianity means (or muslims on Islam for that matter)...

Take GhostWriter, he and I are protestant, but we have very divergent views on the matter...

So, I just don't know how it could be presented in the right light... and, let's say you or I come up with what is the right light, being as objective as possible... the other will likely disagree.

 

[timtofly]

I just don't think bias is taken out of it... I don't.
Even the people talking about it talk about the picking of choosing of what gets covered based on relevance, which is poorly defined when it comes to spiritual manners, especially when, as someone else noted, Christians hardly agree on what Christianity means (or muslims on Islam for that matter)...

Take GhostWriter, he and I are protestant, but we have very divergent views on the matter...

So, I just don't know how it could be presented in the right light... and, let's say you or I come up with what is the right light, being as objective as possible... the other will likely disagree.

How about just giving facts whether they be good or bad and do not leave out any for personal opinions? It is the giving of opinions that colors bias.

Putting them in an ethics class is calling for bias, since how else does one form their ethics?

To a certain point having a particular religion as a child is not as instructive as seeing it lived out in the lives of those around them. Facts are facts even if they are drilled into a child. It is my opinion that facts do not form one's ethics, but watching humanity forms one's ethics. Many people know one thing, but believe and behave contrary to what they know.

Most people today want to pick and choose what is comfortable to them and the walls of religion are being torn down, so that one does not have to live the religion they grew up with. It is a lot easier now to even be an athiest or agnostic than it was 100 years ago.

My opinion on Ghost is that he is working out what he knows and believes and is not afraid to do so.

You do not have to have a religion to form your morals. You have to grow up around people who live morals to form them. Sometimes, one can form morals that are opposite of one's upbringing, out of rebellion to the "statu quo".

 

[Arakhor]

My opinion on Ghost is that he is working out what he knows and believes and is not afraid to do so.

Fortrightness is a wonderful thing, especially in the face of adversity, but then so is discretion, otherwise it turns into vociferousness and intolerance.

 

[peter grimes]

I just don't think bias is taken out of it... I don't.
Even the people talking about it talk about the picking of choosing of what gets covered based on relevance, which is poorly defined when it comes to spiritual manners, especially when, as someone else noted, Christians hardly agree on what Christianity means (or muslims on Islam for that matter)...

Take GhostWriter, he and I are protestant, but we have very divergent views on the matter...

So, I just don't know how it could be presented in the right light... and, let's say you or I come up with what is the right light, being as objective as possible... the other will likely disagree.

Ahh, I see.

But do you mean to say that even in the broadest strokes one can't make any statements about Islam or Shinto or Bahai because the splinter sects and cults of each won't agree?

I don't think that's true, myself.

 

[kochman]

I just see it as a slippery slope... and, not for nothing, the level of stuff you are talking about could be explained in a power point presentation... not a yearly class.

I remember when I was in Germany my ex's little brother getting religion class starting at about age 6 or 7? I think that's a bit young especially... and I don't recall if it then continues in following years or not...

 

[peter grimes]

I just see it as a slippery slope... and, not for nothing, the level of stuff you are talking about could be explained in a power point presentation... not a yearly class.

That's very true - but weren't the classes being discussed something like a comparative religion class? In which case I don't think it would be unrealistic to find a whole chapter on the differences between Seventh Day Adventism, Christian Science [Sciencism?], Mormonism, Baptists, and so on. Like you say, the similarities are short and sweet. Sects are called just that because they split off due to differences - that's where the meat is.

And I don't think the bias issue would be a problem. Just about every religion has a dogma, whether formally codified or not. After all, that's how each cult distinguishes itself from the group it split off from, and that's how the kiddos are indoctrinated

But in the end, I'm perfectly happy to leave formal religious education out of the schools. But history can't be taught without involving the history of religions, so it's always bound to come up.

 

[aelf]

My opinion on Ghost is that he is working out what he knows and believes and is not afraid to do so.

Meh. He talks way too much for someone so ignorant.

 

[IdiotsOpposite]

How about just giving facts whether they be good or bad and do not leave out any for personal opinions? It is the giving of opinions that colors bias.

When it comes to Christianity, you really can't even get people to agree on what the facts are.